UN AND AFRICA: Maasai people facing loss of land

• The Maasai people of East Africa are facing the threat of land dispossession, says an activist from this indigenous community. The Executive Director of the Tanzania-based IrkiRamat Foundation is attending this year's session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. He says the government is trying to change the laws to take land away from the Maasai.

Sports can support the fight against human trafficking and smuggling

• The world needs sports to fight traffickers and smugglers who do "evil business", according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). A discussion in Geneva this week focused on how to assist and protect athletes from traffickers seeking to take advantage of them. It was attended by professional athletes and leaders of professional football clubs.

Aid operations begin in South Sudan following signing of cease-fire

• UN relief agencies in South Sudan are delivering life-saving aid to the communities affected by the conflict. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says these operations are in response to a cease-fire agreement signed by government and opposition leaders on Friday. The accord allows for an opening up of humanitarian corridors for the safe transit of relief items.